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Father’s Day: Jimmy Fallon and NJ Gov Chris Christie’s “Evolution of Dad Dancing”(VIDEO)

Posted on June 14, 2014

In honor of Father’s Day, New Jersey governor Chris Christie joined The Tonight Show host Jimmie Fallon to present this hilarious “Evolution of Dad Dancing” which was a follow up to his equally funny “Evolution of Mom Dancing” Fallon did with First Lady Michelle Obama last year to celebrate the anniversary of her Let’s Move campaign.

Watch and enjoy!

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This Weekend: Go on a “Digital Detox” & reconnect back with your family

Posted on June 7, 2014

This weekend, how about committing to a “digital diet” and reconnecting back with the children. In this technology driven age while parents try to get their kids to get off their game consoles, phones and step away from the TV, they are guilty too of overindulging with the TV and disconnecting from their children.

I know I am guilty of this too and it has gotten worse. Here is a reprint of an article from last year by TV correspondent and author of The Digital Diet: The 4-step plan to break your tech addiction and regain balance in your life
, Daniel Sieberg.

Here are his basic steps from that piece on how to have a Digital Diet.

Step 1: Rethink
Say you spend a total of two hours each day posting on Facebook or Twitter, mindlessly surfing the Web, sculpting your online image, or all of the above, in ways that don’t relate explicitly to your job. It doesn’t seem like much, but over the course of a year, that adds up to roughly 30 days — an entire month vanished in the ether. What do you have to show for it? What else could you have accomplished in that time?

Even multitasking — the preferred excuse of the gadget-obsessed — isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. A study published in the journal Science in April 2010 found that performing multiple simultaneous tasks leaves the brain somewhat baffled (the phrase “jack of all trades and master of none” comes to mind), while a 2009 Stanford University study found that massive multitaskers are easily distracted and have a hard time sorting out irrelevant information. This unfocused state often results in irrational decision-making. Our brains are, as Washington neurologist Richard Restak put it to me, being “sculpted” by digital forces.

Step 2: Reboot
If you’re due for a detox, it’s best done over a weekend.
First, take your digital devices and assorted tech temptations — anything needing a charger — and put them in a box (yes, an actual box; it can be a shoebox or a dresser drawer). Second, and this is scary, give someone you trust the passwords to your social networking accounts (never for your bank or credit card accounts, of course), so they can change them to remove any temptation to log on. Third, set a message on your cellphone saying you won’t be available to check in for a couple of days (let callers assume you’re on a remote vacation). Fourth, stop sending texts. You can check your e-mail, but just once each day, maybe in the evening. For one weekend, downsize the communications technology in your life.

You might enjoy checking the weather by stepping outside and looking up rather than tapping a smartphone icon. You can pick up a book rather than your laptop. You can exercise more, or engage in a conversation with someone face to face. Spend more time reading with your kids. Organize your closet. Pull out the musical instrument that has been gathering dust in the basement.
Over the detox weekend, get a regular old-school notebook and jot down your answers to the following questions: How are your face-to-face relationships with people close to you? How would you describe your reliance on the technology in the box? Are you terrified at the thought of disconnecting?
Revisit these questions constantly throughout your digital diet.

Step 3: Reconnect
The point of the diet is not to eliminate gadgets from your life but to assign them their proper place. One way to do this is by being vigilant about your e-day — the time you spend online each day, from when your digital use starts to when it ends.

During detox, the length of your e-day should be basically zero. As you build back to a healthy digital balance in your life, your e-day will grow — but it shouldn’t expand right back to where it was.

Slowly, start using some of your gadgets again, at first for just a one-hour e-day. Keep a record in your notebook of the time spent with each one. Notice how your usage adds up, and ask yourself why you’re using each device. Has technology replaced something in your life that concerns you? Is your identity being shaped through social networks? (When something happens, do you find yourself thinking about how best to describe it on Facebook?)

Begin to set some boundaries for your e-day. Establish limits on when people can expect to hear from you, for instance. (Even if you’re awake, don’t respond to work e-mails at 2 a.m.) Begin your e-day with a cup of coffee, sans gadgets, and end it by charging your devices in the kitchen overnight, not in your bedroom, where they will drain your personal energy and impede any snuggle time. Buy an alarm clock; if your BlackBerry or iPhone doubles as your alarm, it will demand your attention the moment you wake up. For one day, at least, set your smartphone to give no alerts for e-mails and texts. Check it when you choose to and on your own time.

Step 2: Reboot
If you’re due for a detox, it’s best done over a weekend.
First, take your digital devices and assorted tech temptations — anything needing a charger — and put them in a box (yes, an actual box; it can be a shoebox or a dresser drawer). Second, and this is scary, give someone you trust the passwords to your social networking accounts (never for your bank or credit card accounts, of course), so they can change them to remove any temptation to log on. Third, set a message on your cellphone saying you won’t be available to check in for a couple of days (let callers assume you’re on a remote vacation). Fourth, stop sending texts. You can check your e-mail, but just once each day, maybe in the evening. For one weekend, downsize the communications technology in your life.

You might enjoy checking the weather by stepping outside and looking up rather than tapping a smartphone icon. You can pick up a book rather than your laptop. You can exercise more, or engage in a conversation with someone face to face. Spend more time reading with your kids. Organize your closet. Pull out the musical instrument that has been gathering dust in the basement.

Over the detox weekend, get a regular old-school notebook and jot down your answers to the following questions: How are your face-to-face relationships with people close to you? How would you describe your reliance on the technology in the box? Are you terrified at the thought of disconnecting?
Revisit these questions constantly throughout your digital diet.

Step 3: Reconnect
The point of the diet is not to eliminate gadgets from your life but to assign them their proper place. One way to do this is by being vigilant about your e-day — the time you spend online each day, from when your digital use starts to when it ends.

During detox, the length of your e-day should be basically zero. As you build back to a healthy digital balance in your life, your e-day will grow — but it shouldn’t expand right back to where it was.

Slowly, start using some of your gadgets again, at first for just a one-hour e-day. Keep a record in your notebook of the time spent with each one. Notice how your usage adds up, and ask yourself why you’re using each device. Has technology replaced something in your life that concerns you? Is your identity being shaped through social networks? (When something happens, do you find yourself thinking about how best to describe it on Facebook?)

Begin to set some boundaries for your e-day. Establish limits on when people can expect to hear from you, for instance. (Even if you’re awake, don’t respond to work e-mails at 2 a.m.) Begin your e-day with a cup of coffee, sans gadgets, and end it by charging your devices in the kitchen overnight, not in your bedroom, where they will drain your personal energy and impede any snuggle time. Buy an alarm clock; if your BlackBerry or iPhone doubles as your alarm, it will demand your attention the moment you wake up.

For one day, at least, set your smartphone to give no alerts for e-mails and texts. Check it when you choose to and on your own time.

Good luck! I’m going to be trying these one day!

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10 Summertime Hacks you need to know about NOW

Posted on June 6, 2014

Summer is around the corner. Along with fun and sun, the season also brings bugs and unbearable heat! But you can beat the stresses of summer with these 10 hacks developed by our partners at Summer Nanny Jobs:

1. Keep a dryer sheet in your pocket to keep bugs away. You can spend tons of money buying bug spray, and you’ll most likely end up feeling sticky, smelling like bug spray, and getting bitten by bugs anyway. An easy solution is to carry a dryer sheet with you, which is something most people have at home already anyway. By carrying it in your pocket you can ward off bugs; something about the smell keeps the bugs away from you.

2. Sprinkle baking soda in sweaty shoes. Running around in your shoes without socks is a regular occurrence during the summer time because everyone just wants to slip shoes on and go. Unfortunately, this also causes extra unwanted odor in your shoes. To fix this problem sprinkle the inside of the shoes with baking soda to absorb the odors. If you’d rather not have the powdery look in your shoes, you can create a sachet by using a rubber band wrapped around a few tablespoons of baking soda in a handkerchief. Just put a sachet in each shoe and the odors will disappear.

3. Trap fruit flies with apple cider vinegar. Did you bring home fruit flies from the farmers market? Fill a glass jar half full of cider vinegar and screw the lid back on. Punch several holes in the lid and leave the jar where you have seen the fruit flies. They will be gone in no time.

4. Cool a sunburn with white vinegar. Unfortunately, with the warm summer months comes the occasional sunburn. To take the sting out of a sunburn soak clean soft cloths in white vinegar, wring them out and lay them on the sunburned skin.

5. Coat feet with petroleum jelly and cover with socks at bedtime. This trick will keep your feet soft and sandal ready all summer. A little petroleum jelly on your elbows and knees will make sure they stay soft and smooth for all of those revealing summer outfits.

6. Mix a can of cola with ketchup for a quick and easy barbeque sauce. Figure out about how much sauce you want and add the cola to the ketchup to thin it out and add flavor and sweetness. Brush on chicken or ribs during the last stages of cooking on the grill to avoid burning.

7. Use conditioner to shave your legs in a pinch. Did you forget to pack your shaving cream for your vacation? That’s okay; you can use the sample bottle of conditioner that most hotels give you. This will leave your legs smooth and silky soft.

8. Apply coconut oil to bee stings and bug bites. Coconut oil has anti-inflammatory properties and will help heal the sting or bite as well as soothe the pain.

9. Straws make great strawberry hullers. Take a normal straw and push it up through the base of the strawberry and come up under the hull. Keep pushing and the hull will usually come right out. Practice makes perfect with this, but it really works well when you get the hang of it and you won’t have all those strawberry seeds under your finger nails.

10. Use cute cupcake papers to cover your drinks this summer. When the weather turns nice eating and drinking outside becomes standard, and almost mandatory. The problem with eating and drinking outside is keeping the bugs away from your food and drinks. Get yourself some cupcake papers and use them to cover your drinks. If you’re having a party the cupcake papers can even match the theme. To make a drink cover you just need to punch a hole in the cupcake paper and stick a straw through. Just make sure there are no bugs inside the straw before you drink.

Stay cool!

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10 Things DINKS (Dual Income No Kids) give up when TTC (Trying to Conceive)

Posted on June 4, 2014

Updating a piece I did on the 5 Things you need to do before having your first baby for you DINKs (Dual Income No Kids) out there. DINKs are people who are childless or child free and have two incomes and all the time and money they earn to spend on themselves. For the DINKs that want to have children, you will need to know what’s in store.

Recently, I’ve come in contact with and read stories about people who have children and seemingly were unaware or unprepared for how much having children disrupts and alters their way of life.

So, I assembled a list of TEN things you will have to give up when you have kids.

Some of these are well known but because you never know what others’ know, here is a list:

Sleep –

From the day you bring home a tiny person who doesn’t know of, neither respects

the rule that says night is for sleeping, then you know you’re screwed.
White or

light colored carpet or furniture – Unless you don’t mind it ending up a

new shade of tie-dye by the time junior learns how to eat with his fingers or little

Esmeralda grows a fondness for crayons, sell, trade in or give away that post-modern fancy lily white Ethan Allen gallery sofa set you got when you purchased your first condo.
Low

threshold of Patience – The 5th time your preschooler melts down

in the middle of the grocery store crying for candy and all eyes turn on you, you’ll realize you are

more patient than you ever thought
Dignity –

Because one of these days you may have to insert a tiny peen into an empty water bottle and collect pee

from your potty -trained son when a bathroom isn’t available.
A clean

car – Cheerios, toy cars, crumbs…it will be a smorgasbord of random pieces

of crap in every crevice, nook and cranny of your minivan. Be forewarned and fire armed with a mini-vac.
Weekends –

Sleeping in? What’s that? In between little League games, dance recitals and

cries for breakfast, there’s no chance in heck you’ll be able to sleep til noon

on a Saturday any longer.
Last

minute Get-Away fares –Unless you have a live in nanny, then… say goodbye

to those $100 weekend deals to Arizona

you spotted on Expedia.com.
Arrogance – No more looking down on that woman

with no make-up on, wearing pajama bottoms and a head scarf at the late-night pharmacy counter when that woman is YOU getting cough medicine for a sick kid.
A day

without bending over – To pick up toys, de-clutter a messy kids’ room, a

tantrum-throwing kid or a crawling baby going out of bounds.
A piece of your heart that will forever hold

love, affection, adoration and the interest of your little one or ones forever.

Now you know for sure And knowing is half the battle!

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Surviving all day outdoor exursions with your toddler

Posted on May 31, 2014

Between summer cookouts, beach excursions, and music festivals, it’s

important to keep toddlers on a fairly normal schedule to avoid the meltdowns

caused by sugar crashes and exhaustion. There are ways to keep on napping and

eating schedules while out and about to keep the whole family happy.

Here are tips help keep children on healthy eating, playing and napping

schedules while out on extended days out and about or entertaining at home.

1. Bring an umbrella. An

umbrella can give protection from the rain and sun. It can also be a great place

to set up a quick nap for your little one. A blanket and some shade will

provide the quick slumber necessary to keep them energized throughout the day.

2. Bring the beach toys.

Bring along some water toys, Frisbees and sand castle toys to keep busy. Whether you’re at the beach, the park or the fireworks, toddlers tend

to get into trouble if they don’t have something to keep them distracted.

Plastic toys can get dirty, wet and messy with easy clean-up.

3. Prepare your meals ahead of

time. While adults can find food at most venues, toddlers are picky and

need to stick to healthier options. Spouted pouches of Greek yogurt and

Superfruits from Sprout Organic

Foods don’t require a cooler and can be re-sealed for easy and mess-free

snacks. Throw organic quick snacks and meals like these in a purse or beach bag

to keep your toddler happy.

4. Keep hydrated. Bringing

water will help to stay cool and refreshed throughout the hot summer day. Water

bottles with filters are a great way to filter water from a drinking fountain

while also being eco-friendly. Your toddler will be dehydrated from the sun and

activity so drink up.

5. Bring soft ear plugs. If

your toddler is able to stay up for the fireworks at night, remember to bring

ear plugs. Their sensitive ears will be protected from the noise while they

enjoy the show.

Following these tips provided by Sprout Organic Foods will hopefully

ensure a relatively pleasant outing with your toddler. Good luck!

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7 Facts About Stress and Infertility

Posted on May 30, 2014

While stress is not a cause of infertility, research has shown that high levels of longstanding stress can significantly impact the ability to conceive during infertility treatment. The positive news is that by decreasing stress, couples can experience higher fertility potential as well as healthier and happier well being.

“Many couples don’t realize how much stress impacts health and fertility potential,” explains Dr. Jennifer Hirshfeld-Cytron of Fertility Centers of Illinois. “Stress is one of the fastest variables to change in the body, and taking proactive action through yoga, psychotherapy, meditation and potentially acupunture is not only beneficial, but enjoyable.”

Hirshfeld-Cytron and Beth Heller (M.S., R.Y.T.) of Pulling Down the Moon will be discussing the controversial link between stress and infertility and how to take control of your well-being in the free webinar Yoga, Meditation, and Conception on June 11th at 7 p.m. CDT (register here). The duo offers seven facts about stress and infertility.

1. Stress does not cause infertility. Unfortunately, infertility can cause stress. A study in the journal, Human Reproduction, found that 30 percent of women seeking infertility treatment have depression and anxiety.

2. High levels of stress can double the risk of infertility. A recent scientific study found that women whose enzyme alpha-amylase levels, a stress-related substance, were in the highest third had more than double the risk of infertility

3. Stress affects the reproductive potential of the male and female body. Stress can lengthen the amount of time required to become pregnant, negatively impact semen quality, decrease the success of fertility treatment, and cause depression and anxiety.

4. Reducing stress is good for the body and mind. Taking positive action to reduce stress through mindfulness-based activities has been shown to reduce blood pressure, decrease anxiety, lower depression, enhance a positive mindset, calm the mind, improve sleep, and help overall wellbeing.

5. Consistent stress-reducing activities can aid in pregnancy. A study from Fertility and Sterility found that women who underwent a 10-week stress management program while undergoing IVF treatment had a 52 percent pregnancy rate compared to a 20 percent pregnancy rate in the control group.

6. Yoga can reduce stress and boost pregnancy. Yoga has been shown to be effective in the treatment of depression as well as decrease inflammatory response to stress events. During a six-week Yoga for Fertility class at Pulling Down the Moon where participants learned yoga poses specific to reproductive function, breathing and medication instruction and group discussion, participants experienced significantly decreased anxiety as measured by the State-Trait inventory.

7. Psychological treatment can improve emotional symptoms and lower stress. Receiving support, whether in a group or individual setting with a psychologist, has been shown to be important and effective stress management. Treatment can improve mood, decrease anxiety and depression, and positively impact pregnancy rates during fertility treatment. Mindfulness training programs also give helpful tools for relaxation and increased peace of mind, which can ease the stress of fertility treatment and prove a valuable life skill.

Stay stress-free!

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10 Best States to Visit with Kids

Posted on May 29, 2014

Planning a family vacation can be an overwhelming prospect, especially when the budget doesn’t allow for international travel. Fortunately, there are plenty of spots on American soil that can be ideal destinations, and won’t break the bank like touring a foreign country can. Whether your focus is on the great outdoors, sites of historical significance or great museums, these are 10 of the states that offer plenty of exciting spots for visiting families to check out.

Massachusetts – From the rich historical significance of Boston to the unique retail offerings in Northampton, there’s definitely something for everyone in Massachusetts. Walk the Freedom Trail to get a real taste of American history, see the sights at the living history museum of Battleship Cove in Fall River and enjoy winter sports at Butternut in Great Barrington.
Virginia – The close proximity of the nation’s Capital, as well as the wealth of history shared in Colonial Williamsburg make Virginia an ideal family vacation destination. Families with a hankering for history or an affinity for the civil sciences will revel in the many sites Virginia has to offer.
Arizona – The Grand Canyon alone is reason enough to embark on a family vacation to Arizona, but there’s more to this great state than the Skywalk. A treasure trove of museums in nearby Phoenix offers plenty of cultural edification, while the many state parks provide ample opportunity to do a bit of hiking in the desert.
Florida – Disney World may be the Happiest Place on Earth, but Florida also boasts a healthy selection of kid-friendly vacation diversions. Visit the Everglades for an up-close encounter with swamp creatures and get space-crazy kids in on the act with a trip to the Kennedy Space Center. Don’t forget to pack bathing suits and plenty of sunscreen; no matter where you are in Florida, you’re within driving distance of a beach.
Texas – They say that everything is bigger in Texas, and there’s plenty of truth to that statement. World-class shopping in Houston’s Galleria area, rich culture in the Museum and Theater districts and nearby Galveston Island make Houston a great choice for family travel. And if historical sites are more your speed, there’s always the world-famous Alamo in San Antonio!
New York – The Big Apple is certainly packed with more diversions than you’d be able to take in over the course of one vacation, and that’s not including all the wonders of New York State you can see before even entering the city. Niagara Falls and the changing autumn leaves in Upstate New York are reason enough to make the trek; when you factor in NYC sites like Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, it’s almost unbeatable as a family vacation destination.
Tennessee – Outdoorsy families will love visiting Rock City outside of Chattanooga or the rustic charm of the Smoky Mountains. Music lovers can revel in the country sounds of Nashville or the wonders of Memphis. There’s more to Nashville than country music, too. World-class museums like the Frist Center, a booming culinary scene and plenty of nearby state parks make Tennessee an unbeatable choice for family vacations.
California – From the wonders of Disneyland to the majestic redwood forests, California is a veritable goldmine of exciting sites for the visiting family. Wander through Joshua Tree, experience the glitz and glamour of Hollywood or spend a day relaxing on the beach. Whatever your fancy, California certainly offers something that will please everyone.
Pennsylvania – The Liberty Bell, Gettysburg and the wonder of Independence Hall are just a few of the can’t-miss attractions in Pennsylvania. Sports fans will love visiting Pittsburgh’s legendary Heinz Field, while every member of the family finds something to love at Hershey Park in Lancaster or the fascinating culture of Amish Country.
Washington – While young fans of a certain vampire love story will clamor to visit Forks, the rich natural beauty of Washington State is reason enough to explore the area. Seattle alone is filled with an impressive array of family-friendly activities, with destinations all over the state to cater to any interest group.

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25 Sharable Maya Angelou Quotes Posters

Posted on May 28, 2014

Today, the world lost a literary genius, poetress, activist, actor, orator, director, actress, award-winning, inspirational force, Dr. Maya Angelou.

Her body of work includes plays, poetry and books and within them came numerous gems of wisdom so today, those who have never read Dr. Angelou, may be seeing a lot of her words today.

The reaction to her passing, at 86 in her North Carolina home, has caused many in social media to tweet, post and share some of her inspirational quotes embedded in digital posters.

Her words are also inspirational for parents and children. My favorite: “Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to making reading one of his deep and continuing needs is good for him.”

It is pretty hard to attribute many of the online posters to any one source once they go viral and appear on more than one account and platform, yet some are listed within them.

Anyway, here are our top 25.

6-8

Thank you for a life well-lived and full of inspiration and love!

God Speed!

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Get out of my Uterus: More offensive things people say to pregnant women

Posted on May 27, 2014

Most people are well-intentioned when they make rude and off-putting remarks to pregnant women. Sometimes, it simply takes enough regular people to read the “foot-in-mouth” comments others have made and included as a subject to a blog post for word to eventually spread to the world.

Some commentary is just unnecessary and/or should be kept inside your head.

In a recent blog entry at MyBrownBaby, writer Tai Gooden shares some of the super rude things people told her when they learned she and her husband would be welcoming their second child, another girl.

Here is an excerpt of a couple such comments and Gooden’s humorous rhetorical reply:

“Oh man, you are having another girl? You can always try again.”
Oh man, you have no idea how disappointed we are to have a completely healthy baby girl. Girls are so useless. But it’s okay because you helped me realize that I can try again! Obviously, I had no idea that I am allowed to have another baby with my husband. Also, since I am the second girl in my family, I am not offended at ALL. Next time, we will “tweak our technique and get it right” because our life mission is to pop out a little boy.

“You need to give your husband a boy. Every man needs a boy.”
What happens if I never have a boy? I guess I’ll be stoned to death if I don’t birth the necessary male heir to the Gooden throne. Every time someone says this to me, I wait for the TV cameras to come out. I truly believe MTV brought Boiling Points back and I have been on the show for an entire season.

I also wonder what it means to “give” my husband a boy. I did not go through nine months of a hellacious pregnancy (twice) and push out something the size of a giant pumpkin from my vagina with no epidural (twice) to say “Here, my husband, I give you this small human. Thank you for allowing me to birth your offspring.” They are my kids too and they are not holiday presents.

Read the rest at MyBrownBaby.com

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Memorial Day: 5 Recipes for Kids

Posted on May 25, 2014

Bellyitch Rewind

Source

It’s Memorial Day weekend for the US and this year as with previous years, many families will be gathering to honor fallen soldiers and vets. Here are 5 fun recipes to consider making this weekend while grilling, picnicing and hanging out with family and friends.

Mom’s Strawberry Lemonade

Ingredients:

2 liter Sprite

1 can frozen lemonade

3 cans water

1 package kool-aid lemonade

1 cup sugar

fresh or frozen berries

lemon slices

lots of ice

Directions: Mix everything together in a large drink container. This punch is super sweet, but always a hit at a party.

Chicken Pasta Salad

Ingredients

    12 ounces rotini pasta

    1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves – cut into strips

    1/4 teaspoon lemon pepper

    1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

    4 ounces crumbled feta cheese

    4 roma (plum) tomato, diced

    1/4 cup Italian-style salad dressing

Directions

In a large pot with boiling salted water cook pasta until al dente. Drain.

Meanwhile, season chicken strips with lemon pepper and garlic powder. Broil in oven for 5 to 7 minutes, or until juices run clear. Cool chicken. Cut into bite size pieces.

In a large bowl, mix together the cooked pasta, chicken, quartered tomatoes, and feta cheese.

Serve with Italian dressing poured over top of pasta.

Deviled Egg Boats By Rebecca Milanski

Ingredients

    12 hard boiled egg, cooled and peeled

    1/2 cup mayonnaise

    2 teaspoon dijon mustard

    1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

    1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

    1 pinch sugar

    1 red bell pepper

    1 yellow bell pepper

    1 green bell pepper

    1/2 teaspoon paprika, for garnish

Directions

1. Slice the eggs in half from top to bottom. Scoop the yolks into a medium mixing bowl and lay the whites aside.

2. In a medium bowl, combine yolks, mayonnaise, mustard, salt, cayenne pepper and sugar using a fork; stir to thoroughly combine.

3. Place the yolk mixture into a zip-top plastic bag and cut a small hole at one of the corners. Pipe the mixture into each of the white halves.

4. For the boat sails, cut each bell pepper into 1-inch wide strips. Cut each strip into 1-inch squares and slice each square diagonally to make a triangle. Stick each sail upright into yolk mixture and sprinkle with paprika.

5. Chill for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator before serving.

Kid’s Macaroni

Ingredients

    1 (8 ounce) package uncooked elbow macaroni

    3/4 cup mayonnaise

    2 tablespoons cider vinegar

    1 teaspoon sugar

    1 teaspoon kosher salt

    1/4 teaspoon white pepper

    1/4 cup green onions, sliced

    2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped

Directions

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni, and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. Drain, and rinse under cold running water.

In a large bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper, green onions and jalapeno peppers. Stir in the macaroni. Refrigerate until chilled before serving, at least 30 minutes.

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

    3/4 cup all-purpose flour

    1/2 teaspoon baking powder

    1/4 teaspoon salt

    3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

    1 cup sugar

    3 large eggs

    1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    1/2 cup sour cream

    Easy White Icing

    Sprinkles (optional)

Martha Stewart

Flag Cup Cakes

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 12-cup standard muffin tin with paper liners.

Into a medium bowl, sift together cocoa, flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each, then beat in vanilla. With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture in two batches, alternating with sour cream and beginning and ending with flour.

Pour batter into cups, filling each 3/4 full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.

Cool in pan 5 minutes; transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, then spread with Easy White Icing using a table knife or small offset spatula. Decorate with sprinkles, if desired.

Decorate patriotic cupcakes in July with stars piped in blue buttercream and stripes cut from red licorice laces.

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